(left) Lindsey Leinbach takes a swab to test for the coronavirus at a One Medical testing facility in the Bronx. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson, (middle) Nurses at Montefi ore Medical Center Moses
Division hospital hold a protest demanding N95 masks and other critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) the Bronx. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid, (right) On Dec. 15, Gina Benvenuto,
a registered nurse at Montefi ore, became the hospital’s fi rst employee to receive the Pfi zer vaccine. Photos courtesy of Montefi ore
— and they answered it with
every fi ber of themselves.
Not since the horrors of Sept.
11, 2001 has the city witnessed
and appreciated such sacrifi ce.
On that day of tragedy, it was
the phalanx of police offi cers
and fi refi ghters who ran into
the World Trade Center, at risk
to themselves, when everyone
else was running out; though
the attack cost 3,000 lives, tens
of thousands of others were
saved through such heroism.
The COVID-19 pandemic
wrought incomprehensible
devastation on our city during
the fi rst wave. Now, amid
the second wave, the frontline
healthcare workers fi nd themselves
sacrifi cing themselves
once more to save lives as more
patients enter their hospitals,
clinics and offi ces.
They keep running into danger
as the rest of us socially distance,
mask up and look to keep
away from it. That is the very
defi nition of heroism.
In the days of spring, New
Yorkers began holding a public
salute at 7 p.m. each night to
thank these special people for
stepping up in our defense. It
was a small gesture of gratitude
from a grateful city that will
forever be in their debt.
So, too, is this honor from all
of us to all of them.
The struggle against
COVID-19 is far from over, and
the new vaccine offers hope
that the end is fi nally in sight.
But we can fi nd some comfort
knowing that between now
and the end of the crisis — and
long after the pandemic is but a
painful memory — these heroic
men and women stepped up to
do their job, care for the sick,
comfort the dying and heal this
city.
We applaud and thank all of
our frontline healthcare workers
for the sacrifi ces they’ve
made. And if you’re looking
for the best way to honor them,
there is but one answer: stay
safe.
Mask up. Keep socially distant.
Get the vaccine when it is
available to you.
Let’s do all that we can to
thank and protect our healthcare
heroes — because they answer
the call.
(above) The respiratory team at St. Barnabas Hospital.St. Barnabas Hospital. File photo. (below) On July 31,
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson and Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to
unveil the newest healthcare facility on River Park Towers.Courtesy of Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson
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